I think that my first grand pinblock replacement has become an expensive experiment. I wanted to do the multi-lam capped with delignit block that Ron Nossaman described at Grand Rapids and was documented in the journal. I resawed the delignit and planed a 9mm cap for the block. Before gluing up I noted that the multi-lam (Schaff) was not exactly flat, but I did not measure its degree of bow (I believe this is the root an expensive mistake). I selected a clamping caul with a compensating bow, and glued the assembly up, thinking that it would tend to flatten out. After unclamping and planing the multilam to final thickness per the original block, I find that the bow in the board is just plain awful. Total deflection measured at the midpoint of the board is 10 mm! I'm thinking I have some more firewood for next winter. By the way, the original block measures 39.6 mm, and from my look at the suppliers, Bulduc's 1-5/8 is the only material that will match that thickness. At the same time, I do suppose a person could place blocking at the ends, and use a somewhat thinner board. From my starting, I didn't find that idea appealing, but I'm looking at this from every direction now. Right now my thought is that tomorrow I order a Bolduc pinblock and get on with it. But rather than just reacting to my own self-pity, I'd appreciate your input, before my wallet gets even thinner. In the category of self recrimination, I expect that I should have measured the bow in that multi-lam and shipped it back when I found the degree of deflection that was present. Thoughts? -- Duane McGuire 801-830-5858 http://blog.duanemcguire.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100404/ae10708f/attachment.htm>
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